DownsMail In touch with your parish


A man had been arrested for possession of drugs. Following a spate of shed and garage break-ins, the commu- nity warden said equipmentwas available to mark possessions, and details were available on the parish website. Several people had expressed interest in a neighbourhood watch scheme, and the warden was looking into this. Regarding the road crossing


patrol at Marden School, Cllr Paulina Stockell was asked to contact the education depart- ment with the parish council’s concerns over the withdrawal of funding. Liz Stanley reported that the Marden Business Forum had had a successful month, with 15 new members. The website had been updated and re-vamped, and the jobs page had already helped to fill three local jobs with local people. Several members had met


with two representatives of Tay- lorWimpey regarding the Rook- ery Court development.Itwas proposed that the stones be re- moved and this had since been undertaken. Councillors asked that ameet-


ing be arranged with Cllr Jenny Whittle of KCC regarding the proposed closure of the chil- dren’s centre. Two further quotes had been received for office computers and it transpired that the clerk’s computer would not be sup- ported by Microsoft from April 2014, nor would the assistant clerk’s computer be compatible with Windows 8. It was agreed to accept Arron Services’ quote.


SLOW worms found on a building site in Staplehurst were taken to the village primary school to show students howthey are being cared for.


The legless lizards were cap-


tured by ecologist Dr Aidan Marsh and his team at the site off Oliver Road, where Taylor Wimpey is building 53 homes. Joanna Webb, senior land and planning manager for the devel- oper, is pictured with pupils. She said: “The slow worms really cap-


tured the pupils’ imagination,and I was surprised at how many had seen slowworms in their gardens. “Hopefully, our talk reinforced the importance of wildlife conser-


THE owner of a proposed gym in Headcorn has managed to get his desired opening hours at the second attempt. DownsMail reported last month that Maidstone Council’s planning committee wanted to reach a compromise with Anthony Hayes over a vacant industrial unit in the former Waycon Builders’ Yard in North Street. He was originally given planning permission to convert it into a gym on condition of opening hours of 9.30am-7pm Mondays to Saturdays and 9am-5pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Mr Hayes wanted these hours extended to 7am-


10pm on weekdays but the committee asked offi- cers to see if he would accept a compromise of


Staplehurst Council Parking problem


A RESIDENT had called for measures to prevent parking on verges at Bell Lane and the chairman was taking this up with ward councillors. An update was noted from Golding Homes about proposed ecological work at Bell Lane na- ture reserve and pond. Further thought would be given to Gold- ing’s request for suggested names for its proposed develop- ment off Bell Lane. The caretaker had put up a


CCTV sign at the jubilee Field. The chairman reported on the


latest meeting with county Cllr Eric Hotson, which covered a range of subjects. Cllr Hotson is to provide further details about a proposed interactive speed sign on theA229. He planned to attend the neighbourhood plan design forum. Ward councillors had been


asked for support in taking up with Arriva the shortfalls in the bus service. The clerk and chairman had


met Bacchus Partners which was due to submit proposals for development on land behind The Bell.


Councillors reported on a very


busy surgery with topics raised including an environmental health issue in Bell Lane, park- ing in Station Road and trav- eller sites. Councillors agreed to add


street light improvements and reopening of The Parade toilets to proposed Section 106 items. It was agreed to renew the council’s insurance policy and


accept the 5% reduction in cost for a three-year agreement with the first premium therefore re- duced to £4,330.79. It was agreed to purchase two banners at £60 each to promote the neighbourhood plan. A review meeting on the play scheme had been held with Play Place. It was noted that atten- dance had particularly fallen among the rising 5s age group. The clerk had prepared a finan- cial analysis which would be discussed at the next meeting. Winter arrangements for the planters had been discussed with growing concern. Four crimes had been re- ported: two thefts, one theft from a vehicle and one aggra- vated vehicle taking. PCSO Pete Gardner requested


any information and evidence to support reports of youths consuming alcohol in park areas. One local man had been arrested in relation to burglaries outside the village. The parish CCTV cameras had been used recently in crime enquiries.


Goalpost damage THERE was an incident at The Kintons where the new junior goalposts were damaged. The summer play scheme had


Yalding Council.


been very successful with 89 children attending over the three weeks and very positive feedback from the parents. The Tatt could not be cut this


year as cars were parked in the way. Car parking there was be- coming a problem and a site meeting would be held. MBC had agreed to provide a


Pupils get up close with building site slow worms


vation in the UK, which is some- thingwetakeincredibly seriously.” Deputy head Sarah Friend added: “The children were inter- ested to learn that we have all sorts of fabulous creatures in our village, and were delighted to dis- cover somuchisbeing done to pro- tect them.” Just over two-thirds of the build-


ing site – some 7.5 acres – will be- come a nature conservation area, with a semi-wild landscape and mown footpaths.


Longer hours agreed at planned gym


8am-9pm. The applicant refused and the commit- tee, in its second hearing, agreed to his proposal. The building currently remains unoccupied but


Mr Ayling, an objecting neighbour, feared there would be a rise in noise when the gym opens. “An increase in hourswill lead to an increase in traffic. I have spoken to a vendor and there is a sale in progress,” he said. Mr Hayes insists there would be a noise policy


that users of the gym would have to abide by. “I don’t believe for one minute that putting that by putting a piece of paper on the wall people will abide by it,” said Cllr JohnWilson, the only com- mittee member to vote against the hours change. The other 12 members voted in support.


larger dual purpose bin at the Anchor Inn.Abig thankyou went to Chris Morris for sorting out the wasps. KCC had again refused to con-


sider any changes to bus routes but had provided details of grants for a community service. KCC Cllr Paulina Stockell had suggested she may be able to provide a top-up grant. There were numerous problems with a community scheme and it was felt the original request should be pursued further. Aresident had reported an in- crease in litter in the verges in Laddingford which would be investigated. Work on cutting back trees


and digging the ditch was needed at The Lees. Community payback wouldbeabletodo most of the work, however a digger would be needed. It was agreed to budget £300 for the work. Medway valley Country- side Partnership had been asked to repair the handrail on the bridge across the ditch at The Lees as a matter of urgency. It was agreed to place the en-


tire village diary on the parish website on a regular basis. Robert Body had been in- structed to carry out work on The Kintons track whichwould start shortly. There had been another acci-


dent on Lees Corner/Hamp- stead Lane. The council would continue to chase KCC. Regarding Kenward Road flooding, a new pipe was going to be fitted at the bend in a few weeks. Letters regarding hedges had been issued to landowners.


Village ‘vision’


meeting date STAPLEHURST Parish Council wants residents in the area to getinvolvedinshapinga“vi- sion for the future” for the vil- lage. The idea of creating a person-


alised neighbourhood plan was put to villagers by the parish council last year. Now it wants them to have their say at a three-day design forum at the Village Centre on October 8, 9 and 10. Parish council chairman John


Perry said: “Clearly we must, ultimately, work within the overall local plan of Maidstone Council, but we believe that having a neighbourhood plan will give us a say in the direc- tion we want our community to go. A key part of developing the plan is for the whole com- munity to make a contribu- tion.”


Consultant Feria Urbanism


had been appointed to gather views and help draft the plan, which will be presented to vil- lagers on the final evening of the forum.


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